2012 Louis Eden Valley Semillon

‘As a kid pottering around shearing sheds in the far north west in 1987, I had no idea Henschke was making a Semillon that would be an extraordinary drink 25 years later, but they did, and I shared a bottle of that wine recently. If the 2009 version simply doesn’t have the same complexity and thrall, it is simply because it needs a few more decades.’

‘Like the Hunter style, it's tank fermented, never goes near oak and is bottled early to preserve the fruit flavour. However, it's slightly fuller than the Hunter style, with the distinct aroma and flavour of warm grown semillon somewhere between lemongrass and wet hessian. Don't be put off by the latter, though, as there's a zesty, tart, lemony tang, setting Louis apart from other wines. Would be terrific with delicate fish.’

‘Green, grassy, fresh style with simple lean melon fruit and just a whisper of oak/lees complexity. It's maturing rather well, putting on a little extra weight through the middle now which only adds to the attraction. A pleasant, simple white with a spoonful of style.

‘A little shy on the nose initially, the 2008 Louis opens to reveal a herbal presence of gooseberry and melon fruits with grilled nut overtones. Rather languid and rich yet fluid, its mineral infused palate announces clean and clear lemon citrus flavours, which evolve in a more savoury fashion with lingering notes of herb and a defining smoky aspect, before being punctuated beautifully by delightfully taut and regional, chalky acids.

‘Light, bright gold. Varietally accurate aromas of dried orchard fruit, beeswax, nuts and white flowers. Dry and focused, offering deep lemon rind and dried pear flavors and a suave mineral undercurrent. Becomes sweeter and juicier on the finish, which leaves sappy pear nectar and toasted nut qualities behind. This will be really flexible at the table.’

‘A very attractive mix of grass, lemon juice and spice; a long minerally finish; very good balance and line’.

‘This Eden Valley semillon has wonderful fruit purity: green apples backed with mineral notes that track through the palate. It is fresh and vibrant and will cellar for 10 years.’

‘The fruit is clean and pure, with lemony hints, and the flavour is generous, supported by good acidity. SA semillon doesn’t come much better than this.’

Abundant flavour and richness. Rating 88/100.

...thai lemon grass, herbal essences and oily, waxy characteristics are featured in this broad, concentrated white. This dry white may keep for many years...

One of the best young South Australian semillons I've ever tasted. The aromas and flavours verge on tropical fruit but don't quite go that far. The result is satisfying flavour without heaviness. Likewise, there's an almost subliminal sweetness that is balanced perfectly by zippy acidity. Here's a delicious, versatile wine that is hard to resist, yet will probably reward a few years' cellaring.

‘What a beautiful wine. ...it was a delight - grassy, fresh and seriously intense. It is a wine for the cellar, 10 years should be no problem, but it is delicious right now.’

‘In the hands of the Henschke family from the cool Eden Valley, this is a classy, fragrant number, full of gooseberryish fruitiness and subtly rounded out with a touch of oak, making for a restrained Graves-style whose citrus-zesty, bone dry liveliness cries out for grilled fish and white meats.’

‘The 2004 Louis reveals waxy citrus, candied lemon, and honey characteristics in a straightforward, elegant format. With aeration, a hint of figs also emerged.’

‘Flavoursome, soft and rounded, quite creamy, early developing style.’

‘Full in texture, clean in its wheat and lemon flavour, this wine hints at the complexity it should develop with age. It's soft as fresh cream...’